PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS 2 Prudential Commodity Strategies Fund SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS 2 

Prudential Commodity Strategies Fund 

SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT  

Agreement made as of this 12th day of February, 2018 between PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments” or the “Manager”), a New York limited liability company, and Quantitative Management Associates LLC (the “Subadviser” or “QMA”), a New Jersey limited liability company. 

WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement, dated November 1, 2016 (the “Management Agreement”) with Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”) and an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), pursuant to which PGIM Investments acts as Manager of the Trust; and 

WHEREAS, the Manager desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to Prudential Commodity Strategies Fund, (the “Fund”), which is a series of the Trust, and to manage such portion of the Fund’s portfolio as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services; and 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows: 

1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”), the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Fund’s portfolio, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the “Prospectus”), and subject to the following understandings: 

(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Fund’s portfolio as the Manager shall direct and shall determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned (other than directing a securities lending program) by the Fund, and what portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash. 

(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the Declaration of Trust, as amended, and the By-Laws of the Trust and Prospectus of the Fund and any procedures adopted by the Board applicable to the Fund and any amendments to those procedures (“Board Procedures”) which have been provided to it by the Manager (the “Trust Documents”), and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board, and co-operate with the Manager’s (or its designee’s) personnel responsible for monitoring the Fund’s compliance. The Subadviser shall also comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including securities laws. The Manager shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust or Fund Documents, including a list of Fund affiliates. 

(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts, swaps, options, currency contracts and other investments or instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Fund’s portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants (including but not limited to any broker-dealer affiliated with the Manager or the Subadviser) to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus or as the Board may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Fund with investment supervision, it is recognized that the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the receipt of services that affect securities transactions and incidental functions, such as clearance and settlement functions, and advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in securities, the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities and analyses and reports concerning issues, industries, securities, economic factors, trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts, the financial responsibility, and other services provided by brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser’s other clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Fund each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Fund through broker-dealers and prime brokerage arrangements with broker-dealers (including, to the extent legally permissible, broker-dealers affiliated with the Subadviser(s)) qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and to cause the Fund to pay any such broker-dealers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in light of either that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Fund and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission. Pursuant to the rules promulgated under Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT ACT, broker-dealers are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account with them. In accordance therewith, broker-dealers whom the Subadviser selects to execute transactions in the Fund’s account may seek identifying information about the Trust and/or the Fund. 

On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract, swap, option, currency contract or other investment or instrument to be in the best interest of the Fund as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities or futures contracts to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts. swaps, options, currency contracts or other investments or instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients. 

(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to the Fund’s portfolio transactions effected by it as required by subparagraphs (b)(5), (6), (7), (9), (10), and (11) and paragraph (f) of Rule31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust’s securities. 

(v) The Subadviser or its affiliates shall provide the Fund’s custodian (the “Custodian”) on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Fund’s assets it manages, and shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager. The Subadviser agrees to review the Fund and discuss the management of the Fund with the Manager and the Board as either or both shall from time to time reasonably request. 

(vi) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. 

(vii) The Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manages the Fund in a “manager-of-managers” style, the Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust’s Board as to whether the contract with the Subadviser should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust’s Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified pursuant to this process. 

(viii) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-10, Rule 10f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Fund’s portfolio or any other transactions of Fund assets. 

(ix) The Subadviser shall provide annually to the Manager a copy of Subadviser’s Form ADV as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). 

(b) The Subadviser shall authorize and permit any of its directors, officers and employees who may be elected as trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in which they are elected. Services to be furnished by the Subadviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of such directors, officers or employees. 

(c) The Subadviser shall keep the Fund’s books and records required to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof in the form and for the period required by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund, and the Subadviser will surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s request, provided, however, that the Subadviser may retain copies of such record. The Fund’s books and records maintained by the Subadviser shall be made available, within a reasonable period of time following submission of a written request, to the Fund’s accountants or auditors during regular business hours at the Subadviser’s offices. The Fund, the Manager or their respective authorized representatives shall have the right to copy any records in the Subadviser’s possession that pertain to the Fund. These books, records, information, or reports may be made available to properly authorized government representatives consistent with state and federal law and/or regulations, provided that the Subadviser is given prior notice of such disclosure, unless such prior notice is prohibited by law or regulation. In the event of the termination of this Agreement, the Fund’s books and records maintained by the Subadviser shall be returned to the Fund or the Manager upon the written request of the Trust, provided that the Subadviser shall be permitted to keep copies of such records. The Subadviser agrees that, subject to the execution of a Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement by and between the Subadviser and the Manager, the policies and procedures the Subadviser has established for managing the Fund’s portfolio, including, but not limited to, all policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations governing the adviser/client relationship and management and operation of the Fund, shall be made available for inspection by the Fund, the Manager or their respective authorized representatives upon reasonable written request within not more than ten (10) business days. 

(d) The Subadviser shall maintain a written code of ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, a copy of which shall be provided to the Manager and the Fund, and shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent any Access Person (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser shall follow such Code of Ethics in performing its services under this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser represents that it maintains adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In particular, the Subadviser represents that it has policies and procedures regarding the detection and prevention of the misuse of material, nonpublic information by the Subadviser and its employees as required by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act of 1988, a copy of which it shall provide to the Manager and the Fund upon reasonable request, subject to the requirements of paragraph 1(c) hereof. The Subadviser shall use its best efforts to ensure that its employees comply in all material respects with the provisions of Section 16, as applicable, of the 1934 Act, and to cooperate reasonably with the Manager for purposes of filing any required reports with respect to the Fund with the Commission or such other regulator having appropriate jurisdiction. 

(e) The Subadviser is a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement for so long as such registration or membership is required in connection with the Subadviser’s provision of investment advisory services under this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser’s commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any United States governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target and such investigation is related to the Subadviser’s investment management activities. 

(f) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager a mutually-agreed upon certification regarding records prepared in connection with maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to paragraph 1(c) hereof as the Manager may reasonably request in writing. 

(g) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Subadviser’s procedures, subject to such reasonable reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Manager which may include use by Manager of a third-party vendor for proxy voting administration services. The Subadviser may use a third-party voting service and customized procedures in accordance with Subadviser’s policies. 

(h) Upon reasonable request from the Manager in writing, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) shall assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager in valuing securities of the Fund as may be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the securities being valued. 

(i) The Subadviser shall provide the Manager with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Fund’s portfolio required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Trust with the Commission. The Subadviser shall provide the Manager with any reasonable certification, documentation or other information reasonably requested or required by the Manager for purposes of the certifications of shareholder reports by the Trust’s principal financial officer and principal executive officer pursuant to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 or other law or regulation. The Subadviser shall promptly inform the Fund and the Manager if any information provided by Subadviser in the Prospectus is (or will become) materially inaccurate or incomplete. 

(j) The Subadviser shall comply with Board Procedures provided to the Subadviser by the Manager or the Fund. The Subadviser shall notify the Manager as soon as reasonably practicable upon detection of any material breach of such Board Procedures. 

(k) The Subadviser shall keep the Fund and the Manager informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has knowledge that would materially affect the Fund. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Trust, the Manager, and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement as the Fund and the Manager may from time to time reasonably request. Additionally, prior to each Board meeting, the Subadviser shall provide the Manager and the Board with reports regarding the Subadviser’s management of the Fund’s portfolio during the most recently completed quarter, in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Manager. The Subadviser shall certify quarterly to the Fund and the Manager that it and its “Advisory Persons” (as defined in Rule 17j-under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) have complied materially with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act during the previous quarter or, if not, explain what the Subadviser has done to seek to ensure such compliance in the future. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 and Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, concerning the Subadviser’s Code of Ethics and compliance program, respectively, to the Fund and the Manager.  Upon written request of the Fund or the Manager with respect to material violations of the Code of Ethics directly affecting the Fund, the Subadviser shall permit representatives of the Fund or the Manager to examine reports (or summaries of the reports) required to be made by Rule 17j-1(d)(1) relating to enforcement of the Code of Ethics. 

2. The Manager shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review the Subadviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Manager shall provide (or cause the Fund’s Custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of the Fund managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Fund, and all other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of the Board that affect the duties of the Subadviser). 

3. For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Manager shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets (as calculated by the Custodian) of the portion of the Fund managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Fund that may be agreed to by the Manager, but not agreed to in writing by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment to the Subadviser by the Manager. If this Agreement becomes effective or terminates, or if the manner of determining the applicable fee changes, in the middle of any month, the fee (if any) for the period from the effective date to the end of such month or from the beginning of such month to the date of termination or change, as the case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion which such period bears to the full month in which such effectiveness or termination or change occurs. 

4. The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Fund or the Manager in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser’s part in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the Manager or the Fund may have against the Subadviser under applicable law. The Manager shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Manager’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Manager, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Subadviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. 

5. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board or by vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of the Fund, or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees that it will promptly notify the Fund and the Manager of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of the Subadviser. 

Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Secretary; (2) to the Fund at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the Subadviser at Gateway Center Two, 7th Floor, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Attention: Chief Legal Officer. 

6. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any of the Subadviser’s directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust or the Fund to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser’s right to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association. 

7. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager agrees to furnish the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Fund or the public, which refer to the Subadviser  (including the Subadviser’s name, derivatives thereof and any logo associated therewith) in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. Sales literature may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery. 

8.The Manager hereby certifies that there are policies and procedures reasonably designed to effect the Fund’s policies and procedures disclosed in its prospectus to detect and deter disruptive trading practices in the Fund, including “market timing,” and the Manager agrees that it will continue to enforce and abide by such policies and procedures, as amended from time to time. The Subadviser agrees, upon reasonable request from the Manager, reasonably to assist the Manager to detect and deter disruptive trading practices in the Fund. Manager and Subadviser agree to fulfill their respective duties under this Agreement in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal. 

9. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act. 

10. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. 

11. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written. 

PGIM INVESTMENTS LLC  

  

  

QUANTITATIVE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES LLC 

  

  

  

  

 

Schedule A 

As compensation for services provided by Quantitative Management Associates LLC (“QMA”), PGIM Investments LLC will pay QMA an advisory fee on the net assets managed by QMA that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following: 

  

Dated as of February 12, 2018 

  

1